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"Sin Taxes" are not meant to literally tax sins but to tax behaviours with negative consequences that where the price is ultimately bourne by society. For examp
by TuringNYC 7y ago
"Sin Taxes" are not meant to literally tax sins but to tax behaviours with negative consequences that where the price is ultimately bourne by society. For example, the cost of second hand smoke is bourne by others, and when they get sick, many times by taxpayers. The cost of alcohol is partly bourne by a variety of parties.
"Sin Taxes" are not meant to discourage literal sins but to discourage such activities with external costs. Many argue sugar should also be added to the list of "sins" though of course it is not Biblically a sin.
- baud147258 7y agoTaxes on tobacco are a good example of a sin tax in France, for example, alongside taxes on fuel.
- bryanlarsen 7y agoPigouvian tax is a synonym if you want to avoid the connotations of sin.
- SilasX 7y agoI think there’s a subtle difference in intent, as elucidated by laken above[1]. Basically, if you’re doing it with the intent to reduce the behavior, it’s (best called a) sin tax. If you don’t care how much people continue to do it, as long as they’re paying, it’s (best called a) Pigovian tax. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20394548 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20394548
- bryanlarsen 7y agoOK, I'll go disagree on the linked comment then. :)